Orthodontic appliance



Sept l5, 192s.

' 1,553,797 E. H. ANGLE Aoa'uwon'l'lc APPLIANCE F1104 Feb. 19, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 nwntoz sept. 15, 1.925. 1,553,797

E. H.`ANG1 E 'ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Fned Feb. 19;' 1925 a sheets-she 2 Illllllv Sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,797

E. H. ANGLE ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 19, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet A w f Y Y. uw

Patented Sept. -15, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H.' ANGLE, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE.

Application filed February 19, 1925. Serial No. 10,203.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. ANGLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pasadena., in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Orthodontic Appliances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is applicable to the art of correcting the position of malposed teeth of the dental arch, and particularly related to that class of device in which an arch-bar is adjustably supported at its opposite terminals by anchorages clamped to suitably disposed posterior teeth or molars, and is especially directed to the means by which said arch-bar is connected, intermediate of its ends, with selected teeth of the dental arch.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a tooth engaging band with an arch-bar attaching bracket of such proportions and of such reduced bulk, or size, as to afford la minimum interference with the lips and cheeks, whereby a consequent lessening of discomfort and inconvenience to the wearer is effected.

Other objects ofmy invention are to provide the tooth-band with a bracket that is so constructed and arranged as to afford such areinforcement for said band as to require no supplemental stiening or thickening of the tooth-band as has been commonly employed.

My invention comprehends an arch-bar attaching bracket, the construction of which is ideally adapted to be conveniently soldered to the tooth-band, and to afford such a tenacious attachment therewith, that any possible movement of the tooth, to which the band may be fitted, may be effected without danger of distortion or fracture of the appliance.

Further objects of myinvention are to provide a tooth-band with a bracket having means cooperative to so firmly lock an archbar therein as to insure the firm, accurate and posit-ive movements of either thepcrown or root of a tooth in any desired direction, and thereby so facilitate the cooperative action of the arch-bar that it may as readily effect the movement of teeth lingually, labially and buccally, or they may be rotated or-tipped transversely with respect to their axes, and may be as readily forced laterally in the direction of the length of the arch-bar with equal accuracy of movement.

The form of my invention Vas hereinafter described, comprises a tooth-band provided with a bracket having a slot, opening outwardly from said tooth-band, and arranged toreceive an arch-bar snugly fitted therein, and having spaced apertures extended through the body of said bracket, parallel with the arch-bar receiving slot, and arranged to afford guides through which the ends .of a looped'ligature, forming a retaining lock, may be passed and so twisted asto draw the loop taut about the 'arch-bar and thereby firmly lock it in its slot in said bracket.

My invention also includes all of the various novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the upper human dental arch, showing a 'convenient embodiment of m invention attached to selected teeth of said dental arch; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the tooth'attachments comprising a tooth-band extended in a plane and an arch-bar attaching bracket, constructed according to 1n invention, attached thereto; Fig. 3 is a` ront elevational view of the tooth attachment shown in Fig. 2;v Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of said tooth attachment, taken on the line 4--4 p in Figs. 2 andB; Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of the bracket per se, which is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 attached tothe tooth-band; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slight modification of the bracket; Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of the bracket per se, which is shown in Fig.

attached to the tooth-band; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the for-med tooth-band with its arch-bar attaching bracket secured thereto; Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 8, but showing a fragment of the arch-bar operatively engaged in the attaching bracket; Fig. 10 1s a perspective view similar to Fig. 9, but

showing the wire ligature forming the lock looped over the arch-bar, and its end passed through thev aperture in the attaching bracket and extended therefrom in alinement with said apertures and in position ,to effect the drawing of the loop taut; Fig. 11 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the free ends of the looped wire ligature drawn backwardly to fornrloop retaining bends therein; Fig. 12 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the free ends-of the looped wire ligature twisted to exert tension on the loop and thereby so rigidly lock the arch-bar as to prevent its relative movement with respect to the bracket; Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to, Fig, 12, but showing the twisted ends of the wire ligature clipped ofi, leaving t-he laterally bent projecting ends ofthe wire ligature to hold the loop under tension; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the looped wire ligature in the form best adapted to be conveniently engaged with the bracket; Fig. 15 is a perspective of the wire ligature lock per se, in its ultimate form as shown in Fig. 13, to retain the arch-bar in locked engagement with the bracket; Fig. 16 is a side elevational perspective view showing the application of my invention as applied to relatively inclined malposed teeth, one of which being employed as an anchor abutment; Fig. 17 is a front elevational perspective view showing the application of my invention as applied to relatively inclined malposed anterior teeth, both of which are disposed intermediate of the abutment anchorages; and Fig. 18 is a plan view showing the application of my linvention in effecting the ro-. tation of a malposed'tooth upon its axis.

The tooth regulating appliance to which this inventionis especially a plicable is indicated in ageneral way in Fig. 1, and includes, togeth' with associated parts, an arch-bar 1 bent to substantially conform to the dental arch and having its extremities provided with' tangs 2 and extended through anchor sheaths 3, with which said tangs may be engaged ,to retain the arch-bar 1 in ad.

justed osition, and which are carried by the anc orbands 5, of well known construction. 'f

As shown in Fig. 1, the anchor bands 5 are attached to the. first molar teeth 6,which serve .as anchor abutments upon opposite sides of the dental arch, said-bands being provided with an eye 7 at one end, and at the other end', a threaded stem 8 extended through said eye and arranged to be adjusted therein by the nut 9 to clamp the band '5 upon said abutment teeth 6, as is obvious.

The gist of my invention resides in the means of securingthe arch-bar 1 to the malposed teeth 10 in the dental arch, and comprises the tooth-band 11 and its archbar attaching bracket 13, shown in Figs. 2

and 3 in its initial form extended in a plane, and arranged to be cut to the length desired as indicated by the transverse dot-and-dash lines or lthe oblique dash lines thereon shown, and formed into the tooth embracing ring as shown by the circular dot-and-dash lines as indicate in Fig. 2.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the bracket 13 may beformed of a substantially rectangular piece 0f metal having its rear wall 14 affording an uninterrupted plane surface coextensive with the extreme dimensions of said bracket, which not only affords a tenacious solder ljoint with the tooth-band 11, but also provides such a reinforcement for said tooth-band as to eliminate the necessity of any auxiliary reinforcement as heref tofore employed,

The front or outer wall 15 of the bracket 13 is provided with the deeply cut or depressed slot 16 extending transversely through the body of said bracket and in parallel relation to the length of said toothband, and so nearly bi-secting the bracket body as to afford but a relatively thin web 17, sufiicient only to insure the required rigidity, yet permitting the arch-bar to so closely approachv the tooth-band as to conserve space and thereby minimize the extent of projection of the regulating appliances in the mout-h of the patient.

The bracket 13 is also provided with the apertures 19, which may preferably be cylindrical and extended therethrough upon opposite sides of the slot- 16 and in parallel relation therewith, so as to receive the archbar lock 20, shown in Fig. 15, which is conveniently applied and formed as shown in Figs.` 8 to 13 inclusive, from wire ligature 22 shaped, as shown in Fi 14, into the form of a staple or hairpin aving its legs 23 extended parallel from its loop 25.

As shown in Fig. 8, the slot 16 in the bracket 13, opens outwardly from the toothband and consequently affords convenient access thereto for the eas manipulation of the arch-bar with respect thereto, irrespective of the shape and position of said arch-bar which is shown engaged in the slot in Fig. 9.

As shown in Fig. 10, the arch-bar thus adjusted is engaged by the loop- 25 of the lock structure shown in Fig. 14, the legs 23 being threaded through the eyes or apertures 19, and pulled in the direction of their free extremities to draw the loop 25 taut over the arch-bar as indicated.

As shown in Fig. 11.` ythe legs 23 of the lock structure are turned backwardly to form the loop retaining bendsv 26, and in this position the parallel strands of the wire ligature are twisted together to form in effectal tourniquet 27, as shown in Fig. 12, and thereby further tighten the loop 25 and the retaining bends 26.

As shown in Fig. 13, the twisted strand 27 is clipped flush Awith the outer face 15 of the bracket 13, thereby leaving the outwardly extending retaining prongs 29, of the arch-bar more clearly illustrated separately n'Fig, 15.

The specific application of the improved appliance may be better understood by reference to the illustrations in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, `wherein the malposed teeth'are depicted on a greatly enlarged scale, the teeth shown in Figs. 16 and 17 being relatively tipped, with their axes bearing abnormal angular relation to the plane of occlusion, ivhile'the tooth shown in Fig. 18 is to be rotated on its axis, a movement heretofore difficult for orthodontic mechanisms to accomplish.

As shown in Fig. 16, the anchor tooth 6 and the associated malposed tooth 10 are connectedby the arch-bar 1 which is necessarily so distorted from its right-line position or its position Substantially parallel with the plane of occlusion, as to tend to straighten, which action tends to rock the teeth from their respective positions depicted in full lines, to theI dot-and-dash line po- 1 sition shown.

The relatively inclined malposed teeth 10 illustrated in Fig. 17, having their toothband brackets 13 connected with the medial or intermediate port-ion of the arch-bar 1, which, when distorted from its normal aliriement as shown in 'dot-and-dash line position, tends to straighten and to thereb'y7 rock the relatively inclined teeth 10, as indicated by the arrows shown in said gure.

The tooth 10 'shown in-:plan view in Fig. 18 is so connected with the arch-bar l `as to tend to cause it to-rotate about its axis, as it will be obvious that the tightening of the wire ligature 22 forming I'the lock structure about the arch-bar l, which assumes the curved position shown in the dot-and-dash lines tends to straighten as shown in full lines, whereby the tooth 10,y consequently tends to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in said figure.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bracket 33 is providedwith the arch-bar slot 34 in its outer face v35, and the spaced lock receiving slots 36 in its inner face 37, extended parallel with the slot 34: uponA opposite sides thereof.

As shown in Fig. 6, the slots 36 are arranged to have their o-pen side closed by the tooth-band 39 to afford apertures through which the legs or prongs 23 of the lock may be threaded, and said apertures `correspond to the drilled apertures 19 in Figs. 4i and 5. y

My invention is advantageous in that the bracket serves as a reinforcement affording a maximum solder attaching surface, and provides a uniform three-surface engav'ement with the arch-bar, which snugly Ets therein, and which may be readily shaped and adjusted to engage therewith from the outer slde thereof.

Furthermore, the bracket attachment affords such a positive locking means comprising the ligature wire lock, that said arch-bar may be so rigidly engaged with the bracket as to insure an ideal torque power in any desired direction, whereby the movement of the tooth roots either labially or lingually, and the tipping mesially or distally of the crowns and roots, as well as the rotation of the tooth, may be effected with equal facility. In fact, every possible desired movement of the teeth may be readily accomplished thereby.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement as. herein specified, as it is obvious that various n'ioditications may lbe made therein without departing from the essential features of' my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An orthodontic appliance comprising a tooth-band bracket having an arch-bar receiving slot in its outer face, and having apertures extending through the body of said bracket and vdisposed in the general direction of said slot upon opposite sides thereof. ,f

2. An orthodontic appliance comprising a tooth-band bracket having an arch-bar receiving slot in its outer face, and having apertures spaced from said slot upon opposite sides thereof extended in parallel relation therewith through the body of said bracket.

3. An orthodontic appliance comprising a. tooth-band bracket having an arch-bar `sive with the extreme dimensions of said bracket body.

5. An orthodontic appliance comprising a tooth-band and an arch-bar attachment secured thereto and having its adjacent surface coextensive with its perimetral dimensions, and afording an uninterrupted plane solder connection with said band, said attachment being provided with an arch-bar receiving slot in its outer-face, and having apertures spaced from the opposite sides of and extended substantially parallel therewith through said attachment, and a lock arranged to rigidly retain an arch-bar in said slot, and comprising a loop having prongs extended through said apertures and bent into cooperative engagement with said 'attachment to retain said loop taut over said arch-bar.

7. An orthodontic appliance comprising a tooth-band provided with an arch-bar attachment having an arch-bar receiving slot in its outer face and having apertures spaced from the opposite sides of said slot and extended substantially parallel therewith through said attachment, and a lock formed of wire ligature and shaped to afford a loop arranged to embrace an archbar in said slot, and having prongs respectively extended through said aperture, ar-

ranged to be bent back and twisted to, in ei'ect, afford a tourniquet.

. 8. An orthodontic appliance comprising a ,slot, and having prongs respectively extended through said aperture, arranged to be bent back and clipped to afford retainers cooperative with said attachment to maintain said loop taut about said arch-bar.

S). An orthodontic appliance comprising a tooth-band bracket having an arch-bar receiving slot in its outer face, and having guides spaced from said slot upon opposite sides thereof extended in parallel relation therewith in the body of said bracket.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, A. D.,

EDWARD H. ANGLE. 

